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Judge, 1883-09-01 · page 3 of 16

Judge — September 1, 1883 — page 3: what you’re looking at

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Judge — September 1, 1883 — page 3: Judge, 1883-09-01

What you’re looking at

# Analysis of Judge Magazine Page This page contains satirical commentary on American social pretensions and materialism in the Gilded Age (circa 1883, based on the letter date). **"Exploded Philosophy"** is a narrative poem mocking a poor philosopher who enters a restaurant. Despite his lofty philosophical ideals about poverty and virtue, he's overwhelmed by fine dining—salmon, champagne, elaborate service. The satire: once confronted with luxury, his noble principles evaporate. The punchline reveals the bitter reality: he cannot pay, gets humiliated by the waiter's foot, and learns that in America, cash is "despotic" and credit barely exists. **"Plural Is Not Singular"** appears to be a brief joke about marriage, likely referencing infidelity or remarriage. **"Intercepted Letters"** features correspondence between John L. Sullivan (the famous boxer) and likely Thomas DeWitt Talmage (a prominent Brooklyn preacher). Sullivan defends his boxing profession against moral objections, boasting of his elegant bar-room and cultural refinement—a humorous juxtaposition of brute-force boxing with aesthetic pretension. The letter mocks how wealthy, powerful men justify questionable activities through claims of culture and sophistication.

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Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

Exploded Philosophy. Pariosornens and such like chaps, If penniless and starving, Stand at the door and hold their And wateh their betters earvi Philosophy’s a poor preter Played out by Martin Tupper Thold the man has better sense Whe, hungry. gets his supper. With these reflections im my mind ection ht through a blind Neue for ve T boldly ente The mi The linen snowy, wait ach table well atte rns iter at my side © OF course “Twas <1 nue aut king het be as T replied, + mn “Salmon?” [answered as bef Is ried, od pot: It seemed as if for onee T wore The cap of Fortunatus, Entrees sneceeded, Prefer your cham Cat like, Lanswered with I never felt so happy. I did not quail at quail on Gr wild fowl from the pr Or pies enclosed in pastry So light was it, and airy And as T fed 1 monulized, While at my side the waiter, < gently emphasized jood Lermat vat present), ich of human trade. Existence want? be p How quickly [4d obtain redress, nis point [gravely mooted), If tailors showe« V trustful Hlow nicely Pd be xaited, No more a bootless task “twonld be, Shoemakers to solicit, And many a store net far from here Would ‘well repay a visit Mar ne ow raiiment— A d amond for my ¢ But het A chee! Alas, the (Vd none at all). r deferential nd loud did baw! nt Was essent p the curtain on th The epithets offensive ‘The wrath displayed, from which I guessed My meal had been expensive [hore it all—f bore too much. While through the doorway reeling: His foot had ana Moat hurtfal to my feeling, T learned, but learned too late, That cash is here despoti The credit system in this [s very embryotie And THE JUDGE. PLURAL First Lapy She x. dear +My fiest? Why, 4% Iuderd xp Lapy inst Lapy—"t Only eure Intercepted Letters. PROM MK JOHN. weY 7 LOSGPELLOW SULLIVAN TH Oe WHET TALMAGE mm | | . | My pea | edge the rece J the Lzth instant Avousr, 1883 TatmaGe—t have to acknowl ptof vonr very kind letter of though, lookin T see the 12th fell on a suppose you must h uted your, would be absurd to imagine vou got yourself ast day. And now fe y munication. fn the first place, you a man whose highest: tri- hieved in the fistie aren f in such correct and but the fact is that 1 Boston born and bred—not brown bre: | and the culture clings to me. ed. Furthermore, as T had the | informing a reporter of the Mail and Ex) who was kind enongh to report me in my exact words: ze-fighting is repv t to my nature. a man encounters me with soft gloves, [ knock him out, in the way of business, and a very profitable busi- ness [ have found it to be. Of course, I may at some time or other meet a man who will— but there: why indulge in idle speculations? Some things, though thes may be possi almanac, © mis tof vou It is ing! nd meanwhile T have an ¢ ‘oom, wsthetically fitted under the direct supervision of Oscar Wilde himself, and justly regarded as one of the most interest- ights in my native city of culture, It of strangers with the Old South Chureh, and though, making al- Is NoT SINGULAR vod who wes your first hushand ? how very singular” lescanee for your profession, any dear ‘Tal. . Leantiot feel offended if you taken interest in the church; still, [shall feet ally aggrieved if vour second call, on t1 casion of your next visit to Boston, made at the new bar-room. But [wander on, and am alt her neg: leet your questio I shall be noble agree with vou t would be superfinous, As you uire is to be able to deliv blows on the pulpit eushions with tellin The from any mental » bility of the cv ion hile the matter ama tat few hours’ daily p would give you mu ach, which isin Thad the ad- rach, it struck your mauleys extremely workmanlike and pretty — excuse for dropping inte the ve roof the ring— but ne efor ultra you know the tiee at the enough erepidam if you really desire ps, and be enabled to wear ont five cushions per month instead of only thr at present, Twill be pleased to give you hints in my power regarding straight, hitting. f will even put on the glov half an hour—all in a friendly, n spirit. For goodness sake, though, let this offer of mine get inte the pa- pers. or the folks will have it that Tam is- ing a ». Anyhow, drop inand see me when vou come to Boston, and Pldo my nest te © it lively for you, LS. to deve vour bice comicbooks.com